Parents are demanding action from Seattle authorities following a shooting last Friday near a Columbia City preschool that left more than 100 young children caught in the vicinity of gunfire during the afternoon pickup period, an incident that has intensified concerns about escalating crime in the south Seattle neighbourhood.
Riann Tice had just collected her 2-year-old son from the preschool and was securing him in his car seat when she heard five or six gunshots ring out in immediate proximity to her vehicle.
“I knew they were close because I had never heard something so loud,” Tice stated through tears, describing the terror of being caught in a shooting whilst her toddler was vulnerable and unable to protect himself.
A group of individuals exchanged gunfire outside the preschool facility on 21 November where more than 100 children were waiting to be collected by their families during the busy 4:30 p.m. dismissal period. Remarkably, no one sustained injuries despite the bullets fired in an area crowded with young children and parents.
“It’s not like it’s too close to home anymore. This is home,” Tice stated, expressing frustration that gun violence has reached the doorstep of institutions serving the neighbourhood’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
Parents indicated that crime in the Columbia City community has deteriorated steadily in recent years, with drug dealing and overdoses occurring at Rainier Playfield directly across the street from the preschool, and now armed confrontations occurring during daylight hours when children are present. Seattle Police Department data shows reported incidents in the area have tripled since 2023, a dramatic increase that residents argue demonstrates inadequate law enforcement response to emerging public safety threats.
The preschool operator stated, “This shooting is a direct consequence of inaction and a lack of care for the people who live and work in this neighbourhood. The children in this community deserve to live, learn, and play in peace,” placing responsibility on city officials and law enforcement agencies for failing to address deteriorating conditions before they escalated to violence endangering children.
“They don’t take our concerns seriously. We call and don’t get responses. If we do, it’s hours later when the activity is gone,” stated Jillian Guertin, a parent whose frustration reflects broader community sentiment that police response has been inadequate despite repeated reports of criminal activity.
“At the point where you’re having gunfights in front of a preschool, I think we’ve lost something here,” stated Luke Carney, whose 5-year-old attends the preschool, articulating a sense that basic community safety standards have broken down when armed violence occurs at locations serving young children.
Andrew Oberhardt, another parent, indicated his son has been psychologically affected by witnessing the shooting. “He said he heard booms, was talking about pew pew guns and fireballs. He had a nightmare about it,” Oberhardt stated, describing how his young child is processing the traumatic experience through play and dreams that reveal his distress.
Despite the trauma inflicted on families, Tice stated she is finding gratitude this Thanksgiving for the ordinary moments of parenting that continue because her family escaped physical harm. “I feel like just the mundane things like buckling your kid into a car seat and making their lunches in the morning, we still get to do that,” she stated, acknowledging that the outcome could have been catastrophic if bullets had struck children or parents during the exchange of gunfire.
Seattle Police Department has not yet responded to requests for comment about parents’ concerns regarding inadequate police presence and delayed response times in the Columbia City neighbourhood. Parents are planning a community meeting in coming days and hope to speak directly with Seattle police officials face to face to demand increased patrols, faster response times, and proactive strategies addressing drug activity and gang conflicts before they escalate into violence.
The children at the preschool spent part of Monday participating in lockdown drills, practising procedures for sheltering in place and staying quiet if dangerous situations develop, skills that preschool-aged children should not need but that have become necessary given the security environment. Teachers are focusing on emotional health and psychological wellbeing in the aftermath of the shooting, monitoring children for signs of trauma including nightmares, anxiety, regression in behaviour, or expressions of fear so they can connect families with mental health support services if needed.
